Article transfer and loading mechanism



June 1, 1965 F. s. HYER 3,186,564

ARTICLE TRANSFER AND LOADING MECHANISM 9 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 4, 1963 i* 9 'Il /Q/ magma June 1, 1965 F. s. HYER 3,186,564

ARTICLE TRANSFER AND LOADING MECHANISM Filed March 4, 1963 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 1, 1965 F. s. HYER 3,185,564

ARTICLE TRANSFER AND LOADING MECHANISM 9 Sheets-Sheetl 5 Filed March 4, 1965 June 1, 1965 F. s. HYER ARTICLE TRANSFER AND LOADING MECHANISM 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 4, 1963 June 1', 1966 F. s. HYER 3,186,564

ARTICLE TRANSFER AND LOADING MECHANISM Filed March 4, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 1, 1965 F. s. HYER 3,186,564

ARTICLE TRANSFER AND LOADING MECHANISM Filed March 4, 1963 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 June l, 1965 F. s. HYl-:R 3,186,564

ARTICLE TRANSFER AND LOADING MECHANISM Filed March 4, 196s 9 sheets-sheet 7 IZZ lao

I 86 w., 1ll Un June 1, 1965 F. S.'HYER ARTICLE TRANSFER AND LOADING MECHANISM 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed March 4, 1965 June 1, 1965 F. s. HYER ARTICLE TRANSFER AND LOADING MECHANISM 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed March 4, 1963 United States Patent O 86,564 ARTICLE TRANSFER AND LOADING MECHANHSM Frank S. Hyer, Whitefish Bay, Wis., assigner to Cutler- IIanimer, Inc., Miiwauhee, Wis., a corporation of Deiaware Fiietl Mar. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 262,414 iti Ciairns. (Ci. 2idi) This invention relates to a repeating cycle article transfer and loading mechanism.

While not limited thereto the mechanism of the present invention is particularly well suited for laterally transferring and alining stacked articles, such as newspapers and the like, from a stacking machine to a position in registration with top entry opening in a stack wrapping machine, and then positively moving them downwardly against a precut length of wrap material, and together with the latter, into the bottom of a wrapping machine.

A machine is presently available for providing an overlapped and glued band wrap of paper around four sides of each one of successive stacks of newspapers which are fed into it. As originally designed this wrapping machine contemplated that alined stacks of newspapers would be stacked at a point above a top entry opening into the machine and then dropped under gravity into such opening. However, the only presently successful high speed stackers for newspapers and the` like provide lateral or side discharge of stacks of newspapers. In order to properly mate this wrapping machine to such stackers a suitable transfer and loading mechanism must be provided.

In the aforementioned wrapping machine the stacks of newspapers in dropping thereinto under gravity engage `a precut length of wrap material, and, with the latter, then drop on down to the bottom of the machine preparatory to the compression and succeeding wrap folding and gluing cycles. It has been found that use of gravity force alone to accomplish this loading of the stack with its length of wrap leaves much to be desired in respect of consistency of the time interval required. The use of additional force to positively drive the stack down into the top entry opening of the machine into engagement with the length of wrap, and, with the latter, to' thevbottom of the machine makes for much better consistency in the time interval required, in repetitive operation.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an article transfer and loading mechanism to carry out the aforementioned desirable functions.

AAnother object is to provide a mechanism of the aforementioned type which comprises a transfer unit for effecting lateral transport of stacked articles between first and second points, gates at the second point for temporarily holding the articles, and a ram for positively moving the stack of articles downwardly to another point below theA second point following opening of the gates.

A further object is to provide a control system for the aforementioned mechanism to automatically afford operation of the same as demanded by the presence of, and intervals between articles being delivered to the rst point.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention which will now be described in detail, it being understood that the embodiment illustrated is susceptible of various modifications without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is arperspective view of an article stacker Wrapper mechanism which incorporates my invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a portion of such mechanism to enlarged scale taken lalong the line 2 2 of FIG. l.

"ice

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a stack transfer unit in an initial operating position.

FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 3 but showing the stack transfer unit in another operating position.

FIG. 5 is a view like FIGS. 3 and 4 but showing the stack transfer unit in still another operating position.

FIG. 6 is a view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 1 showing another portion of the mechanism in an initial operating position.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view like FIG. 6 but showing the same portion of the mechanism in another operating position.

, FIG. 8 is a view like FIGS. 6 and 7, but showing the same mechanism in still another operating posit-ion.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of a control system for the portions of the stacker and wrapper mechanism shown in FIGS. 2 to 8.

FIG. 10 is a more or less schematic view of the transfer unit, the pneumatic operator therefor and certain control devices associated therewith.

FIG. 11 is a more or less schematic view of a ram, a pneumatic operator therefor and certain control devices associated therewith, and

FIG. l2 is a more or less schematic view of gates, a pneumatic operator therefor and certain control devices associated therewith.

FIG. 1 shows a complete stacker-wrapper mechanism for newspapers and the like which comprises a stacker unit 14, a transfer unit 16, a loading unit 18, a stack wrapper unit Ztl and wrapped stack run out conveyor 22. Stacker unit 14 in one preferred form is like that described in the Howdle et al. Patent No. 2,819,661 now Reissue Patent No. 25,018 and may be assumed to deliver vertically stacked and alined newspapers at its right hand side.

The stack wrapper unit 20 is of a commercially available type wherein stacks of newspapers are fed at regular intervals to the top entry opening and then released to drop under gravity into engagement with a precut length of wrap material to the bottom of a rectangular trough formed by a stationary bottom plate and the adjacent sides of side wall conveyors. The wrap adjacent its upper ends are then gripped and the stack is then advanced in steps through a compression zone. The wrap ends are then released and the compressed stack advances through a flap folding and gluing zone and then discharged to a run-out conveyor or the like. The stack wrapper unit 2d per se does not form part of the present invention and only parts thereof necessary to an understanding of the present invention will be described in detail.

Transfer unit 16, which is best shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 and ll, has ya carriage i7 comprising a rectangular frame or yoke 24 having a top member 24a, vertical side members 24h and 24C, and bottom stub members 24d and 24e. Parallel, horizontal stack support blades IL-5y and 2% are mounted on each of the stub members 24d and 24e, respectively, in spaced apart relation on opposite sides of an endless belt conveyor 30 which extends from the delivery end of stacker unit 14 and the entrance to loading unit 13. Blades Zn and 28 have horizontal flat portions which at their outer edges join a-t a right angle with downwardly turned liangcs which lie adjacent the sides of conveyor 30.

Carriage 17 is mounted for reciprocating movement on horizontal guide rods 32 and 34 by means of longitudinally bored guide blocks 36 and 38 which are secured to the upper surface of member 24a. Rods 32, and 34 are supported at corresponding ends to a stationary frame member 40 on which is alsol mounted a linear acting pneumatic piston operator ft2. Cylinder /t-Za is mounted on one side of member 40, and has piston rod 2b which 3 extends through a clearance opening in member 4% and connects through a pin and clevis connect-or 44 to a block in secured to members 24a midway between slide blocks 36 and 38.

The carriage has two stack pusher members 4S and E@ which are pivotally mounted at their upper ends adjacentv members 24h and 24C, on member 24a, and at their lower ends on stub members 24e and 24d respectively. The.

upper pivot pins d8a and 5dr: of members 48 and 59 extend through members 24a and cam follower operating arms 5?. and 54 are non-rotatably fixed on pins 48a and Stia. Tension springs 48h and 5% are attached at corresponding ends to pins 48C and Stic on the upper edges of members d@ and 5t), respectively, and are attached at their other ends to pins 24) and 24g, respectively,xed on member 24a. When the carriage is in the position de- .picted in FIG. 3 the rollers 52a and 54a on the ends of yarms 52 and 54 engage with the cam surfaces 55a and Sb of a cam member 5d (see FIG. 10), which is stationarily mounted in stacker unit E4 near its delivery end, to hold the .members de and 5d in open or non-pushing position against the bias of the springs 4gb and Sib. When the carriage is moved to the right, rollers S2 and Se discngage from cam surfaces 56a and Sb, and pusher members 48 and 5d move under the bias of springs 58h and gdb to the positions depicted in PEG. 4. Engagement of pins (not shown) with stop members (not shown) secured to the lower surface of member 2da, and engagement of similar pins (not shown) secured to the lower edges of members 43 and Si? respectively with the outer edge or the blades 2o and 28, determine the last mentioned lposition for members 48 and Si). Such position is termed the closed or pushing position.

Stationary verticai plates S8 and 6i), which in one preferred form are formed of a transparent plastic material, are spaced apart from carrier members 26 and 23, and extend fom the entering end ot the loading unit i8 to a point slightly to the left of the leading edges of pusher members 4S and 5d when the carriage 17 is in its starting position (see FIG. 2). Plates 5S and 6d provide side wall enclosures for the transfer unit, and prevent papers spilling ot to either side.

FG. l0 shows carriage 17 together with pneumatic operator d2, valves and limit switches used to control,

such operator. Slide valves SVl and SV?1 are provided to control the admission and exhaustion of air under pressure to and from the interior of the'cylinderv 42a on opposite sides of the` pis-ton 42C. Electroresponsive solenoids SCL and SOLZ are provided to move valve SV'l between left and right-hand operating positions. Valve SVZ Iis spring biased to a left-hand `operating position and is movable against such bias to a right-hand operating position whenever its electroresponsive solenoid SGLS is energized.

Valve SV when in its left-hand position depicted in FIG. l0 has its right-hand passageway positioned to ad- -mit air from a high. pressure air conduit 62 into a conduit 64, which is connected to the interior of the cylinder 42a on the right-hand side of piston 42C. The center passageway is then connected,r to vent air to atmosphere from a conduit 66 which is connected to corresponding ends of parallel conduits 68, .'70 and 72. YConduits 68,

'70 and 72 are connected at their other ends to a con-VV interposed in conduit 68 and `closes ,such conduit when in its lett-hand extreme position depicted. A throttling valve '76 is interposed in conduit 70 and may be assumed to throttle air iiow in either direction through such conduit.'v

A one-Way check valve 73 is interposed on conduit 72 and permits free ow of air through the latter in the direction of the arrow whilepreventing dow in the reverse direction:Y Y

Solenoid SOLl is controlledk by a limit switch LSllV (see FIGS. 9 and l0), and solenoid SOL2 is controlled Vs ectively.- Y

by a limit switch L32. Solenoid SOLS is controlied by a limit switch L53. Limit switches L54 and L55 shown in FIG. 10,-together with those just mentioned, will be hereafter described more fully in conjunction with the complete electrical control circuit of PEG. 9. l

Loading unit ILS is positioned over the top entry opening to the stack wrapper unit 20. It comprises a pair of pivota'lly supported gates 8i) and 52 which are operable by a pneumatic piston operator'84 (see PEG. l2) between a closed or stack hold position, and an open or stack drop position. VUnit'it further comprises a vertically movable ram 86 which is moved byrconnecting rod 83C of a pneumatic piston opera-tor S8'.

The `gates Sil and S2 are non-rotatably supported across their upper ends onV rods Eid, which at their left-hand ends as Viewed in FIGS. l and 2, are journaled in Vvertical supportmembersf. and 94. Their right-hand ends, rods 9?, are journaled to vertical support'members 5 and 9S, respectively. A pair of invertedL-Sha ed brackets Midland M2, which at'theirleit 'hand ends are secured to vertical support members 92 and 94 respectively, have a plateV 163 secured lto theirvhorizontal legs onwhich is mounted pneumatic operator 88. The `other ends of the brackets 1% and 612. are secured to vertical support members 96 and 98', respectiveiy. Longitudinally extending horizontal support members 114 and ithave an inverted, substantially V-shaped yoke Md, secured thereto and the latter' carriesa pillow block 126 for support of the right-hand end of pneumatic operator 42. Upper side guide plates i522 and Zd are'secured to their lett-hand ends to the vertical support members 9.?. and 94, and at their right-hand ends to vertical support members 96 and 98 respectively. A` vertical back plate :i3d secured to membersg and 98 together with side plates 122 and 124,

Ydefine the outer limits o-f'a centering trough for the incoming stacks of newspapers on gates Sii :and 82 and over the top entry opening the stack Wrapper. YSide plates 122 and 124 are spad apart a distance slightly greater than the width of the articles'and less than the spacing between plates SS'and 69. Plates` and 6) are connected by angle plates i041 and to plates 122 and L24, re-

Ram 86 hasa rod Y132; secured theretoand the enlarged cam. head 132a thereof in a lower limit position engages with the operating arm of a limit switch L55 to (see FIGJll) initiate Va control operation as will hereafter be more fully described.

As best shown in FIG. 12 piston 84h of operator 34 Yis pivotally connected through its pistonY rodV 84e to a lever plate 134 which at one corner'is non-rotatably xed on the pivot rod Qtratgate V82. A'lever arm 136 is non- Yrotatably fixed on, rod 9? of gate Sill, and .has pivotal `connection withone end of a connecting rod 133 which at itsother end has Ipivotal' connection with lever plate 134. An arm 1d() ixed on rod 90 of gate 82 eiects closure of limitswitchrLSlV when gate 82 attains closed or stack hold position;V f

A slide valve SVS, is operable between the-left-hand and right-hand positions by Ysolenoids `SOLiY and SOLS.

YIn its left-handposition..depicted in FIG. 12 its right passageY connects airsupply conduit 62 to a conduit 142 .thatconnects intcriorallyV of the cylinder 84a of operator efonfthe right-hand side of piston 841;'. The central passageway of valveSV in the last'mentioned posi- -ton of theV valveV connects a conduit 144, having connection with the interiorot cylinder 84a tothe left of piston'db -to the atmosphere.,V VWhen solenoid( SOLS i is energized, as will hereafter be explained, a slidevalve SVS is moved to its right-'hand position wherein its letthand passageway connects conduitY 144 to conduit 62 to supply high pressure air toY the'fleft-hand side 1of piston 84h to effectdrive Aof the latter and piston "rod 84e to .the right. Asa result lever plate 134.and gate 82 will pivotVK counterclockwise, and gate 80 throughrits connection with lever plate 134 by lever 156 and rod 13S will simultaneously be pivoted clockwise.

Gates 80 and 82 are provided with tabs Stia and 32a, respectively, adjacent their edges nearest the stacker unit, which when the gates are closed and carriage is returned to its initial position at the stacker unit, holds the stacks in place on the gates against withdrawal with return of the carriage. This action will hereinafter be more fully explained.

Operation of the stack transfer unit 16 and loading unit 18 will now be described. Stacker unit 14 may be assumed to be driven in synchronism with a newspaper printing press folder and an input conveyor (not shown). It further may be assumed to deliver alined stacks of newspapers of predetermined numbers to the left-hand end of conveyor 30 at regular intervals determined by the speed of the press folder and of the stacker input conveyor.

At the start of a run the transfer unit carriage will be in the position down in FIGS. 2, 3 and 10. Conveyor 30 is driven by, and in synchronism with, the Stacker. As a stack of newspapers SP is carried by conveyor through yoke 24 portions of the bottom paper bear and slide on the upper surfaces of the carriage blades 26 and 28. As the stack SP continues to advance its forward end operates limit switch L82 (see FIGS. 9 and 10) which completes an energizing circuit for solenoid SOLZ to operate valve SVI to its right-hand position. Valve SVI in its right-hand position admits high pressure air from conduit 62 through conduits 66, 70 and 72 throttling valve 76 and check valve '73, and conduit 74 into cylinder 42a on the left-hand side of piston 42e. Simultaneously the center passage in valve SVI connects the interior of cylinder 42a, on the righthand side of piston 42C, through conduit 64 to the atmosphere. Consequently pistou 42a, and hence, carriage I7 are driven rapidly to the right.

As the carriage moves out of its starting position the rollers on the cam followers 52 and 54 disengage from the cam 56 and pusher members 48 and StB move to their l positions shown in FIG. 4 wherein they engage with the rear end of the stack SP. The stack SP resting on the blades 26 and 28 over a considerable portion of the bottom paper, and engaged from its rear end by pusher members 48 and Sti, is quickly advanced to the right to the position depicted in FIG. 5 at a speed somewhat greater than the linear speed of the belt of conveyor 30. In this position the stack is then centered over the top entry opening in stack wrapper unit 20.

As stack SP moves into the last mentioned position a pad 24K on yoke 24 engages the operator of limit switch LS4 (see FIGS. I() and 11) to close the latter. As seen in FIG. 12, closure of limit switch L54 results in energization of solenoid SOLS to move valve S`V3 toits right-hand position wherein operator 84 is energized' appropriately with high pressure air to effect operation of gates 30 and 82 to closed or stack hold position beneath the carriage blades 26 and 28.

Arm 140 engages the operator of limit switch LS1 as gate 82 moves into its last mentioned position to open 'its contacts LSIA and close its contacts LSIB. Closure of contacts LSIB results in energization of solenoid SOLI. As a result valve SVI is returned to its lefthand position depicted in FIG. 10, and as will be understood, operator 42 drives the carriage of the transfer unit to the left toward its starting position in the stacker unit. Air being exhausted from cylinder 42a on the left hnad side of piston 42h must pass through conduits 68 and 70 and valves SV2 and 76 interposed therein, as check valve 78 is then closed.

As the carriage nears its starting position an arm 36a secured to slide block 36 re-engages the operator of limit switch LS3 to open the latter. This results in deenergization of solenoid SOL3 and return of valve SV2 to its position shown in FIG. "10 wherein it blocks passage of air through conduit 68. Thus any remaining air to the left of piston 42C must then pass through conduit 7b and throttling valve 76 to atmosphere. Consequently venting is markedly slowed down to provide air cushioning as piston 42C approaches the left-hand limit of its travel. This prevents the carriage abruptly slamming into its starting position thereby enhancing mechanical life of the carriage and associated parts.

On carriage 17, leaving its final position depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6, and moving to the left as last described, stack SP is retained in its position over the top entry opening to the stacker by the side tabs a Iand 82a (see FIGS. 5 and 7) engaging with the rear end of the stack at the blades 26 and 23 of the carriage slide out from engagement with the bottom paper of the stack. The stack SP then drops onto the lower arms of gates 80 and 32.

The carriage on return to the left disengages from the operator of limit switch L84 to permit the latter to reopen and deenergize solenoid SOLS. As the carriage approaches its starting position and arm 38a secured to slide block 38 engages the arm 15M of a lever pivotally mounted on cam 56 and effects counterclockwise pivotal movement of lever 150. Lever 15d in pivoting engages its other arm 15011 with the operator of limit switch LSS to momentarily open the latter to close its contacts LSSA and open its contacts LSSB, followed by reopening of contacts LS5A and reclosure of contacts LSSB as arm 38a passes beyond the arm 151m of lever 150.

` As will be seen from FIGS. 9, l1 and 12 momentary closure of contacts LSSA results from momentary energization of solenoids SOL4 and SOL6. Due to the prior deenergization of Asolenoid SOLS by the opening of limit switch L84, energization of solenoid SOL4 results in move-ment of air valve SVS to its left-hand position depicted in FIG. 12 wherein air is admitted appropriately into the cylinder operator 84 to effect opening of gates Sti and S2. The simultaneous momentary reenergization of solenoid SOL results in movement of air valve SV@ to its left-hand position wherein it admits air from high pressure air conduit 62 through conduit 146 to the interior of cylinder 88a of operator 8S above piston 88h to drive the latter, and hence ram 86 downwardly against the uppermost paper of stack SP.

With gates 8? and 82 open and ram 86 engaging the stack SP the latter is positively driven downwardly against a sheet of pre-cut wrap paper 1&4 (see FIG. 8) and together with the bottom stationary plate 166 of stack wrapper unit 2@ between sidewall conveyors 168 and 17) thereof.

When ram 86 reaches its lower position the cam end 13211 on rod 132 engages with the operator of limit switch L86 to close the latter (see FIGS. 6 yand 11). Closure of the latter then completes a circuit through the then closed contacts LSSB of limit switch LSS to energize solenoid SOL7. As solenoid SOL6 has only momentarily energized, to drive Valve SV4 to its lefthand position, energization of'solenoid SOL7 results in return of valve SV4 to its position shown in FIG. 12 wherein air is exhausted from above piston SSI; to atmosphere through conduit 146, and high pressure air is admitted to cylinder 88a below piston S815 through conduit 148 to drive ram Se upwardly to its .starting position to complete the cycle of operation of transfer loading mechanism.

The control system depicted in FIG. 9 is a somewhat modied portion of a more comprehensive 'continued system for a complete stacker-wrapper mechanism disclosed and claimed in the Frank S. Hyer application Serial No. 262,428 filed March 4, 1963.

I claim:

1. In an article transfer mechanism, in combination, a carriage movable between iirst and `second pointsand comprising parallel article support members spaced apart aisance transversely of its axis of movement and means for supporting said carriage for reciprocal movement, a conf veyor having an article carrying run in proximate Ycoplanar alinement with the article carrying surfaces of 'said support members, said conveyor being positioned between and running along the axis of movement of the carriage support members with its entering end at a third point in line with and ahead of said first and second points to convey articles onto said support members, and means including means responsive to advance of articles by said conveyor to a given position on said support members to move said carriage and any articles thereon to said second point.

2. The combination according to claim 1, together with means atsaid second point operable when said carriage is moved backv to said irst point to prevent withdrawal of said articles with the latter and to hold them at a fourth point below said second point.

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein the last recited means comprises a pair of gates having first portions which when operated as aforestated are interposed behind said articles when the carriage reaches said second point and having portions onto which said articlesV drop when the carriage returns to said hrst point.

4. The combination according to claim 3, together with a ram normally positioned above said sceond and fourthy points and means for moving said ram downwardly to a fifth point, whenever said gates are reversely operated to remove support from under articles at said fourth point, to drive the articles through said fifth point.

.means under the direction and control of limit switches provide sequential energization of said operators to af- Iford the movement of said carriage, said gates and said ram as aforestated. v

6. The combination according to claim l, wherein said carriage comprisesa yoke carrying said article support members and pusher members pivotally mounted on said yoke on opposite sides of said conveyor, said pusher members when said carriage is at said irst point 'being held substantially parallel to the sides of the conveyor and said pusher members having bias such that when said carriage is not in said iirst position they angle inwardly toward the center line of the conveyor to engage their leading ends against articles that may be on said support members so that any relative movement between said carriage in its movement toward said second point and the conveyor vwill not displace the articles on the support members.

7. The combination according toclaim 3, wherein said gates are oppositely disposed, of L-shaped configuration,

`and have tabs projecting transversely of the center line of the conveyor which in closed position of the gates project behind any articles on the carriage so upon return of the latter to saidriirst point any such articles are -prevented from moving with the carriage, which upon such return, then slides out from under said article to drop them onto the lower arms of said gates.

8. 'The' combination according to claim 6, wherein said yoke is of inverted U-shaped form with portions extending inwardly towards the conveyor and wherein said support members are secured to said portions and have vupper surfaces parallel with but `slightly below the plane of the conveyor. Y

9.k In an article transfer mechanism, in combination, a carriage, means comprising a iiuid power operator energizable to move said carriage between iirst and second points, said carriage having parallel article support members spaced apart transversely of its axis of movement, a belt conveyor having an upper belt run'positioned between the carriage support'V members and having its entering end at a third' point aheadof said first point to convey articles onto saidsupport member, a pair of gates disposed `on opposite sides of said second point, which when closed, have arms positioned to hold articles at a fourth point below said second point, and have tabs interposed behind articles carried by said carriage to said second4 point to prevent theirY withdrawal with' said carriage when it returns to saidV .rst point, second means including fiuid power responsive means energizable to move said gates between said closed positionand an open position to drop any articles previously on said arms, and control means including a first switch operable by articles moving on said belt'run to a given position relative to said carriage when the latter is at said iirst point to energize the operator of the yiir'st mentioned means to move said carriage to said second point, a second switch operable by said carriage when it reaches said second point to energize the operator of said second means to close said gates and to reversely energize'the operator of the first mentioned means to move Ysaid carriage back to said first point, and a third switch operable by said carriage'as it approaches said first point to reversely energize the operator of rsaid Asecured means to open said gates.

10. The combination according to claim 9 together with a ram'no'rmally positioned above said second and fourth points, a iiuid power operator energizable to move said Vram downwardly through said second and `fourth points to a fifth point `therebelow, and means included in said control means responsive to the aforementioned operation of said third switch to energize the last mentioned operator as aiorestated;Y

ReferencesrCited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

9. IN AN ARTICLE TRANSFER MECHANISM, IN COMBINATION, A CARRIAGE, MEANS COMPRISING A FLUID POWER OPERATOR ENERGIZABLE TO MOVE SAID CARRIAGE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POINTS, SAID CARRIAGE HAVING PARALLEL ARTICLE SUPPORT MEMBERS SPACED APART TRANSVERSELY OF ITS AXIS OF MOVEMENT, A BELT CONVEYOR HAVING AN UPPER BELT RUN POSITIONED BETWEEN THE CARRIAGE SUPPORT MEMBERS AND HAVING ITS ENTERING END AT A THIRD POINT AHEAD OF SAID FIRST POINT TO CONVEY ARTICLES ONTO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, A PAIR OF GATES DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SECOND POINT, WHICH WHEN CLOSED, HAVE ARMS POSITIONED TO HOLD ARTICLES AT A FOURTH POINT BELOW SAID SECOND POINT, AND HAVE TABS INTERPOSED BEHIND ARTICLES CARRIED BY SAID CARRIAGE TO SAID SECOND POINT TO PREVENT THEIR WITHDRAWAL WITH SAID CARRIAGE WHEN IT RETURNS TO SAID FIRST POINT, SECOND MEANS INCLUDING FLUID POWER RESPONSIVE MEANS ENERGIZABLE TO MOVE SAID GATES BETWEEN SAID CLOSED POSITION AND AN OPEN POSITION TO DROP ANY ARTICLES PREVIOUSLY ON SAID ARMS, AND CONTROL MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST SWITCH OPERABLE BY ARTICLES MOVING ON SAID BELT RUN TO A GIVEN POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID CARRIAGE WHEN THE LATTER IS AT SAID FIRST POINT TO ENERGIZE THE OPERATOR OF THE FIRST MENTIONED MEANS TO MOVE SAID CARRIAGE TO SAID SECOND POINT, A SECOND SWITCH OPERABLE BY SAID CARRIAGE WHEN IT REACHES SAID SECOND POINT TO ENERGIZE THE OPERATOR OF SAID SECOND MEANS TO CLOSE SAID GATES AND TO REVERSELY ENERGIZE THE OPERATOR OF THE FIRST MENTIONED MEANS TO MOVE SAID CARRIAGE BACK TO SAID FIRST POINT, AND A THIRD SWITCH OPERABLE BY SAID CARRIAGE AS IT APPROACHES SAID FIRST POINT TO REVERSELY ENERGIZE THE OPERATOR OF SAID SECURED MEANS TO OPEN SAID GATES. 